Conference Objectives

The purpose and objectives of this conference were to provide a forum for all actors in the Sudan to convene and for all their voices to be heard, to promote dialogue and look for consensus for a way forward, and to consolidate the achievements of the people-to-people peace process.

Participation in the Meeting

There were over 200 participants from a broad range of backgrounds, regions, and organizations in Sudan and the diaspora including more than fifty traditional chiefs, elders and women from southern Sudan.

NSCC invited all southern political factions and movements to this important meeting. The SPLM/A declined our invitation and physically blocked participation of citizens - including traditional and church leaders - in areas under SPLM/A control. We regret their non-cooperation but look forward to working constructively with all factions, movements and political leaders, including the SPLM/A, to forward justice and peace in southern Sudan.

We suggest that any questions on the involvement or non-involvement of any factions or movements be addressed directly to them.

The Conference outcomes and resolutions, the Kisumu Declaration are attached.

Please do not hesitate to contact the New Sudan Council of Churches for any clarifications or comments to the attention of Telar Deng the Peace Desk Facilitator whose address is indicated below:

telardeng@swiftkenya.com  

KISUMU DECLARATION

The participants of the Kisumu Conference affirm that:

1. Liberation is the common and prime agenda for people of southern Sudan (including Abyei), Nuba Mountains, and South Blue Nile and that it is the people who are at the centre of the liberation struggle.

2. Self-determination is the central objective of the people's liberation struggle. 

   1. This inalienable right of self-determination should be exercised through internationally supervised referendums for all marginalized areas struggling for liberation as mentioned above.

   2. There should be an extensive program of civic education in preparation for the referendum

   3. Common commitment to self-determination should be a unifying factor for everyone involved in the struggle for liberation.

The participants of the Kisumu Conference resolve that:

3. All movements should:

   1. Immediately cease hostilities amongst themselves and commit to open dialogue to resolve political differences.

   2. Establish peace desks in collaboration with civil society organizations, coordinate and share information amongst themselves, and maintain close contact with the NSCC.

4. The SPLM should:

   1. Clarify its position particularly in blocking participation of civilian participants to this conference vis-a-vis the National Convention (1994), Civil Society Conference (1996) and the SPLM/A-Church Dialogue (1997), and the democratic positions espoused in these documents concerning freedom of movement and assembly.

   2. Take appropriate actions to prevent those Nuer who join SPLM/A from attacking their own people.

5. The Nuer community should:

   1. With facilitation of NSCC, bring together leaders of SSLM and SPDF to establish a framework for unity and peace.

6. The NSCC should:

   1. Continue and strengthen dialogue with SPLM in a timely manner to bring it and the people in the areas under its control back into the people-to-people peace process.

   2. Organize individual meetings with all the movement leaders to establish the foundation for another inclusive meeting on the peace process. This process should begin with SPLM and SPDF, but they should not prevent progress with all other movements.

   3. Fully involve all elements of civil society in the process of reconciliation and unification. i. Ensure that women are empowered and have an active voice at all levels of the people-to-people peace process in acknowledgement of their importance in the formation of values and historical exclusion. ii. Ensure that youth are wholly represented in the process.

   4. Encourage grass-root dialogue, forming community peace committees that should be morally supported by the various political movements. The grass- roots process should remain independent from the movements.

   5. Review the talks held in 1991-92 to reconcile the split between the Torit and Nasir factions, to ascertain whether the reasons for failure of negotiations are still valid.

   6. Develop conceptual framework for southern unity in dialogue with the movements.

   7. Ensure that Equatoria is encouraged and facilitated to participate fully in the people-to-people peace process.

   8. Maintain and protect its neutrality, independence from political interference, and spiritual growth and strengthen its capacity to lead the process and manage complex issues.

   9. Engage more fully regional churches and church councils, including FECCLAHA, in the peace process.

   10. Ensure that all participants in the people-to-people peace process should have an accurate written record with consistent high quality translations so that all groups are able to present an accurate, detailed, and unified message to their constituencies.

   11. Assume responsibility for all levels of people to people process through:

       1. Improved field-based monitoring, reporting and evaluation

       2. Establishment of early warning mechanisms

       3. Sensitization of local populations

       4. Establishment of mechanisms to sustain peace (including common services at borders)

   12. in collaboration with the donor community, international organizations on the ground, and other elements of civil society, fully implement the recommendations and resolutions of previous conferences.

   13. Immediately implement the planned Nuer-Nuer peace conferences and actively support the Nuer Peace Committee.

   14. Provide in conjunction with others organizations appropriate peace and conflict management training.

   15. Expand and strengthen Radio Voice of Hope to support the people-to-people peace process, and encompass civic messages and education.

7. The International community should:

   1. Respond to the humanitarian tragedy in all parts of southern Sudan, the Nuba Mountains, and South Blue Nile.

   2. Establish an internationally supervised military no-fly zone covering southern Sudan, the Nuba Mountains, and Southern Blue Nile to prevent aerial bombardment of civilians.

   3. Continue support for the IGAD-facilitated peace negotiations, which should be expanded to include other opposition forces fighting for the right of self-determination and voices from civil society, and remain based on the declaration of principles (DOP), which affirms the right of self-determination.

   4. Continue to support the NSCC in the implementation of the people-to-people peace process through continued funding of activities and capacity development support.

   5. Bring pressure to bear on international oil companies to cease oil exploration and exploitation until there is a comprehensive and just peace agreement.

   6. Provide support to start the campaign against HIV/ADIS.

The conference participants believe firmly that:

8. All elements of southern Sudanese society must recognize the dire threat that HIV/AIDS poses and must take measures to prevent it.

9. The practice of enslavement and trade in human beings must be condemned and halted by all elements of Sudanese society and the international community.

10. This conference wishes to extend its thanks to the Kenya government and the people of Kisumu.

KISUMU DECLARATION FOR NUER UNITY AND PEACE

23rd June 2001

We the 72 undersigned Nuer traditional leaders (chiefs), women representatives, youth representatives, church leaders and representatives of SPDF and SSLM, meeting in the City of Kisumu, Kenya, this 23rd day of June 2001;

Concerned for peace and unity amongst our people

Moved by the current suffering amongst our people as a result of division and conflict

Determined to put an end to the exploitation of our differences by others to inflict destruction on our communities and

Resolved to play our historic role in the Liberation struggle of the people of South Sudan.

We hereby make the following Declaration of Unity on behalf of the whole Nuer Nation:

1. The SPDF and SSLM are to implement organic Unity without delay.

2. The two Movements shall take immediate steps for the unification of their political structures, military forces and humanitarian wings.

3. The two leaders of SPDF and SSLM are called upon to form a Joint Unity Committee to work out the necessary modalities for the integration of the two Movements and to give recommendations on other issues.

4. The two leaders shall declare the cessation of all forms of hostilities among themselves and with all other political factions in Nuerland and take necessary steps for the restoration of Peace and Law and Order in the whole of Nuerland.

5. The two leaders are called upon to agree on the formation of a unified leadership structure.

6. The Unified Movement shall enter into dialogue with the other Liberation Movements of the South with the view to achieving unity of purpose and joint action in the Liberation struggle.

7. In view of the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Western Upper Nile, as a result of the displacement of the civil population by the Government of Sudan and international oil companies, we call upon our leaders to inform the world about the plight of our people. We call upon the international community to support our efforts to build peace and harmony amongst our people.

8. We also call upon the Nuer Peace Committee to expedite the holding of the planned Nuer Peace Conferences under the auspices of the New Sudan Council of Churches (NSCC).

In confirmation of the above we have here below appended our signatures.